WBCC Newsmail 301, Volume 7, May 18, 2002
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Composed with help from members of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC),
and weekly published by Martin Peeters, Netherlands, Focal Point of the WBCC
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Dear WBCC members and Non WBCC members,

And for now I hope you enjoy reading this weeks WBCC Newsmail !!

1. A New WBCC Member ... by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

We have a new WBCC member. Let me introduce him to you

Name: Bertie van Haag (WBCC member #261), NetherlandsE-mail
Age: 55
Profession: Civil cervant min.agriculture&fisheries
Hobby: Circulating Bi- and/or Tri-metallic coins of the world, and
collecting all other coins from all over the world;
Against: Humiliation of the human rights; real racism; the plundering of the
earths recources
How did I know about the WBCC:with surfin' on the net.

2. The WBCC Encasement Celebration Project ... by Rod Sell, Australia

The WBCC has embarked on another Project.
To encase all the 1 and 2 Euro bi-metallics in a WBCC copper ring.
Full details of this project can be seen at: TARGET="0">Encasement Project.

Encased euros of 2 countries will be issued each month commencing with the
Euros of Austria and Ireland which only have a date of 2002. The cost of the
set of these 2 coins is US$15 each set, postage is extra. Next month June
we will encase the euros of Portugal and Spain. Spain has 4 different dates
on their euros and members can select sets from each year or all years.
Please email your requests or orders to me: .

The above encasement page will be updated with the information of the number
of sets of each year and country that have been encased, for member
information.

This is an on going project and it is anticipated that as the euros appear
with new dates we will encase them for members wishing a set. The only
restricting factor is our ability to obtain the euros.

In future years when all the euro countries have been encased, we will
encase bi-metallics from other counties that have a similar size to the
euros. Thailand Bi-metallic 10 baht springs to mind. When we encase these,
can we call them adver-Thai-sing.

If members have any other ideas or suggestions please email me the details.

Referring to WBCC Newsmail 298, item 2 about the Bi-metallic 500 Tolar from
Slovenia one can read all the news about it on the Website: The Bank of Slovenia.

--Quote
On the occasion of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, the Republic of
Slovenia hereby issues three commemorative coins (a gold coin, a silver coin
and a coin for ordinary circulation). The coins are issued to praise the
success of the Slovenian National Football Team, of its coach and of the
Slovenian Football Association. They also express the broad Slovenian
support of and adherence to sports and sports competitions in general.

The participation of the Slovenian National Football Team in the FIFA
European Cup two years ago was a surprise worldwide. The qualification of
the Slovenian National Football Team among the thirty-two world national
teams to compete in the forthcoming World Cup is, no doubt, a great success,
given that national teams of some countries considered much stronger in
football have not qualified. It will be a privilege and an honour to hear
the Slovenian national anthem “Zdravljica” ("A Toast", a poem written by
Slovenian greatest poet France Prešeren) played upon the opening of the 2002
World Cup.

The achievements of the Slovenian National Team have substantially increased
interest in football and have made it popular nation-wide. The so-called
“football fairy tale” has triggered display of mass enthusiasm on the
occasion of good achievements of the Slovenian National Team and has paved
the way for the slogan “Slovenija gre naprej!” (Slovenia qualifies!).

The motif of the coin is based on the historical fact that the ball-kicking
game was considered a symbol of the “rising sun” in China as early as at the
beginning of the first century A.D. Depicted on the coin is the sun with
sunrays on the horizon, a human shape representing a football player ready
to kick, and a ball. The sun with its rays symbolically determines the venue
of the World Cup in geographical sense, the five rays represent the five
continents. The ball, the human being and the sun are the three elements
which render three-dimensional perception possible.

--Quote
British Euro Pattern Coins?
First United Kingdom Euro Coin Patterns
UK & The Euro
We believe that the United Kingdom will eventually join the Euro, along with
about a dozen others countries. It is not known whether any official plans
have been made to produce pattern designs for a set of British euro coins.
It is likely that if any designs have already been considered, they will
have been kept top secret for political reasons.

Unofficial Patterns
On a number of previous occasions, especially before major coinage changes,
pattern coins have been produced as a design exercise or to test public
opinion. Many of these have been privately produced. We have recently been
shown a set of trial or pattern euro coins, with suggested British designs.
We are also negotiating to obtain supplies of these, although they are
currently not yet at a production stage. We will post more news and
photographs here when available.
--Unquote

5. Bi-metallic medals from Estonia ... by Frans Woons, Canada

The University of Tartu (in Estonia) has re-established the SELL Student
Games. In 1998 the XVth SELL Student Games were held. These games were
held regularly for Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian students
before World War II . In 1998 gold, silver, and bronze medals were award to
first, second, and third place competitors respectively, just like at other
games (e.g., the Summer and Winter Olympics). However, there is something
unusual about these medals as they are encased in, what appears to be, a
copper ring. In other words, the medals are bi-metallic. Attached to the
copper ring is a bracket so that a blue/black/white ribbon can be attached.
In total students from 13 countries participated in the XVth SELL Student
Games and 78 gold, 76 silver, and 71 bronze medals were awarded. A gold
medal (diameter 60 mm; without the tricolour ribbon) is offered for sale on
eBay under # 1351746715. We thank Vaido Lillemaa (the seller of the medal)
for his kind permission to use his images in the WBCC Website: New Images.

6. Bi-metallic overlay from Canada ... by Massimiliano Aiello, Italy

I have received this from Colonial Acres Coins (Canada):

--Quote
2002 Canada Silver 50 Cents "Golden Tulip"
"The invasion of Holland during World War II forced the Dutch royal family
into exile. They sought, and found, refuge in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. For
safeguarding her family, Princess (later Queen) Juliana thanked Canada with
a personal gift of 20,000 tulip bulbs.

That gift became an annual bequest and transformed Ottawa into the floral
showcase that it is today. Furthermore, 2002 marks the 50th anniversary of
the Canadian Tulip Festival, the perfect time to mark Princess Juliana’s
generous gift, and a gloriously beautiful tradition.

With a superb 22-karat gold-plated design that does justice to its exquisite
beauty, the Royal Canadian Mint proudly presents the Golden Tulip. 50-Cents
Sterling Silver Coin, a tribute to the continuing gift of tulips".
Limited to 20,000 coins worldwide.
Pre Order Price: $29.95
--Unquote

Bertha von Suttner (1843-1914) was born into nobility in Prague. Her full
name following marriage was Bertha Sophie Felicita Kinsky von Chinic and
Tettau von Suttner. She was a well-known author and activist for a peace
movement that ended with the beginning of WW I. In fact, she won the
coveted Nobel Peace Prize in 1905. She lived most of her life in Austria
but traveled extensively lecturing for the Peace Movement. Bertha von
Suttner is featured on the Bi-metallic two-Euro coin of Austria. What were
some of the titles attributed to Bertha von Suttner?
a. Nobel Laureate
b. Countess
c. Baroness
d. Generalissimo
Please send your answer to me: Jack Hepler.

Answer to Bi-metallic Quiz Game question #300.
Have you ever wondered why the mother of the King of Thailand is called the
Princess Mother and not Queen Mother as in the United Kingdom? Thai history
provides the answer. She was married to a Royal Prince, a son of King
Chulalongkorn and Queen Sawang Wattana, but he was never Queen. She is,
however, the mother of two kings; the late His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol
(Rama VIII) and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), the present
King of Thailand. Although born a commoner, the Princess Mother now has the
title of "Her Royal Highness Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindra Baromsaj Chonni".
She was commemorated in the year 2000 on the Bi-metallic special issue 10
Baht of Thailand. What was the name given to the Princess Mother when she
was born?
a. Kitiyakara
b. Sirikit
c. Sangwal
d. Sawang

Answer to Question #300 is "c" Sangwal. (Some sources show the correct
spelling as Sangwag). Summary of answers to Quiz Game Question #299: 100 % correct, five players.

WBCC Auction 44 will open on the 25th May with Newsmail 302, just 1 week
from now. This auction is starting a week earlier as Ii am not available on
the day the auction would normally finish. Items listed can be seen at: Auction 44.

Please email me Rod Sell your lot information today. The more lots the better the auction, lets try to get another good auction like Auction 43.

While silver plugs are known on a number of different 1795 Flowing Hair
dollar varieties, until now, none had been found on a Bolender 5 variety
(The United States Early Silver Dollar from 1794 to 1803 by M.H. Bolender).
The coin features the Three Leaves Reverse (three leaves appear on the
foliage found below each of the eagle's wings compared to two leaves on
earlier 1795 varieties).

Silver plugs are also known on a number of 1795 Flowing Hair half dollars.
The silver plugs are believed by researchers to have been inserted before
striking to bring underweight planchets up to standard rather than to
correct fineness.
[snip]
--Unquote

"See you", next week,Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club